communitiesprescribe

Communitiesprescribe is a collaborative initiative and online platform designed to involve local communities in shaping prescribing practices within health systems. It seeks to balance clinical guidelines with community values, aiming to improve medication access, affordability, and safety while respecting local contexts.

The model uses participatory processes such as community forums and citizen assemblies to deliberate on which medications should be prioritized, how formularies are set, and how stewardship efforts are implemented. Decisions are supported by transparent data, evidence syntheses, and privacy protections, with input from residents, patients, caregivers, clinicians, and policymakers.

Governance typically combines a community council and a clinical advisory board, with published rationales and regular reviews that incorporate new evidence and local feedback. The initiative operates within national or regional regulatory frameworks and works with existing health authorities.

Impact and critique: Proponents argue that communitiesprescribe can increase equity, trust, and alignment of prescribing with local needs. Critics caution about balancing community input with safety concerns, the risk of misinformation, and the challenge of scaling. Safeguards include professional oversight, independent ethics review, and routine audits.